Mississippi announces Early Migratory Bird Seasons for next year

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks recently announced the 2016-2017 early hunting seasons for migratory game birds. The early seasons are for resident Canada geese, early teal, snipe, woodcock, dove, and rails. Mourning dove season will open statewide on Sept. 3 at noon for a 90-day, 15-bird daily bag limit. The possession limit is 45 birds. MDWFP Waterfowl Program leader Houston Havens said no changes were made to early season migratory game bird season lengths or daily bag limits. The late game bird season will be announced next month. The state is divided into two zones to maximize hunting chances for all hunters. The North Dove Zone is between north is of U.S. Hwy. 84 south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and west of MS Hwy. 35. Season dates for the North Zone are Sept. 3-Oct. 9; Oct. 22-Nov. 6; and Dec. 10-Jan. 15. The South Dove Zone consists of areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35, including Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties. Season dates for the South Zone are Sept. 3 -Sept. 11; Oct.8- Nov. 13; and Dec.3-Jan.15. Legal huinting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. Here's the schedules: nThe Canada Geese season is Sept. 1-Sept. 30 with a Bag Limit of five, and possession of 15. nTeal starts Sept. 10-Sept. 25 with a big limit of 6 and 18 limit in possession.

nRails (Sora and Virginia) begins Sept. 3 through Nov. 11, with a bag limit of 25 and possession limit of 75. nRails (Clapper and King) and Gallinules (Common and Purple) both go from Sept. 3-Nov. 11 with a Bag Limit of 15 and possession limit of 45. nSnipe starts Nov. 14-Feb. 28 with a bag Limit of 8 and possession limit of 24. nWoodcock begins Dec. 18 and ends Jan. 31, with a bag limit of three and possession limit of nine.

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